Tag: Africa

The fifth biggest diamond ever discovered has been unearthed in a mine in Lesotho, a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. The stone has a weight of 910 carats and the size of two golf balls.

The diamond is especiallyvaluable because it belongs to a category of gems that are colourless and do not have graveimpurities.

The diamond was found in the Letseng mine, which in the past has been famous for the size and quality of gems discovered there. Diamonds that come from the Lesotho mine usually sell at a high price. Since 2006 the mine has produced some remarkable diamonds, including the Lesotho Promis, a 603-carat diamond found in 2006.

The newly found diamond will now be cut into smaller stones and polished. After that, diamond traders can actually say how much the diamond is worth, probably around $40 million.

Gem, the British based company that operates the mine together with the Lesotho government, expects its shares to recover after prices fell and a new mine had to close in Botswana.

The largest diamond ever discovered is still the Cullinan, a 3,106-carat gem found near Pretoria in 1905. It was cut into several stones including the Great Star of Africa, the largest cut diamond in the world. The rest has been cut into the gems that are in the British Crown Jewels.

Cut and polished diamond – Image: Steve Jurvetson

Words

British-based = its main headquarters are in the U.K.

discover = to find for the first time

colourless = clear, so that you can see through it

Crown Jewels = objects that are a symbol of the British monarchy, kept in the Tower of London

especially = above all

gem = beautiful stone that has been cut into a special shape

government = people who rule a country

grave = serious, bad

impurity = object that is not very pure; with other substances that are mixed into it

including = also

landlocked = country that has no coast

mine = deep hole in the ground that people dig in order to find coal , gold and other metals or minerals

Chocolate may be in danger of becoming extinct by the middle of this century. Pests and fungal diseases have been found in cacao trees that may endanger the crop’s survival.

In addition, cacao is also under attack by global warming. Trees grow in a very small area about 20° north and south of the equator, where humidity and temperatures are the same all year round. By 2050 rising temperatures and drier weather will push cacao production up into mountainous areas, many of which are home to wild animals.

Scientists from the University of California are trying to save the plant. Together with researchers from the American food company Mars, they are trying to grow cacao seeds that are moreresistantand can grow at higher altitudes.

Most of the world’s cacao production comes from two countries in western Africa, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. These areas may not be suitable for cacao production in the decades to come. Millions of farmers depend on cacao for a living.

Cacao tree – Image: Luis Ovalles

Words

altitude = how high up something is

cacao = seeds from which chocolate is made

decade = ten years

endanger = to be a threat to something

equator = line around the middle of the earth

extinct = die out; not exist anymore

century = a hundred years

depend on = need

fungal disease= disease caused by a simple plant that has no leaves and grows in the ground or on other plants; mushrooms are a type of fungus

global warming = an increase in the world’s temperatures caused by growing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere

humidity = the amount of water that is in the air

in addition = also

mountainous = in the mountains

pest = a small animal or insect that can destroy crops and plants

researcher = person who studies a topic in order to find out more about it

resistant = here: it cannot be destroyed or damaged

rise = to go up

scientist = person who is trained in science and works in a lab

seed = small hard object from produced by plants, from which a new plant can grow

China has put a ban on all ivory trade in the country. The ban came into effect on January 1 of this year. 67 official ivory processing factories and shops were closed last year and a remaining 100 were shut down on December 31. A similar ban in the U.S. went into effect in June 2016.

The Chinese decision to stop the ivory trading business has been welcomed by the World Wildlife Fund and other organisations as a major effort in protecting the world’s elephant population. It is estimated that over 30,000 African elephants are killed every year.

Chinese citizens regard ivory as a status symbol. People buy jewellery, chopsticks and other objects made of ivory, leading to the development of one of the world’s largest ivory markets. When trading ivory was officially banned worldwide in 1990, China continued to sell it through shops and factories. The legal trade also brought illegal ivory into the country.

However, there is a majorconcern that the new law does not apply to HongKong, an important ivory trading hub. Authorities in the former British colony are working on a ban of their own, expected to take effect soon. On the other side, customers will probably go to Laos, Vietnam or other Asian countries, where trading laws are not so strict.

In the past year, ivory prices started to go down as more and more Chinese shops were closing. The ban will have a big impact on African countries, especially Kenya and Tanzania, wheremost of the elephant poaching is taking place.

Elephant tusk with a carved decoration

Words

apply = take effect

authorities = government organisations that have the power to make decisions

ban = to forbid something; not allow

citizen = a person who lives in a country and has rights there

concern = feeling of worry about something important

development = growth

effort = try

especially = above all

estimate = to calculate how big something is by the information that you have

former = in the past

however = but

into effect = start to work

illegal = not allowed; against the law

ivory = hard, smooth yellowish-white material from the long teeth of elephants

jewellery = small things that you wear for decoration, like necklaces or rings

legal = allowed by the government

major = important

official = allowed by the government

poaching = to shoot or catch animals illegally

processing = here: when you make an elephant’s tusk into jewellery and other objects

protect = here to keep animals safe

remaining = those that were left

similar = almost the same

status symbol = something that you have that you think shows high social rank or position

strict= here: law that must be obeyed

trading hub = here: a place where ivory is bought and sold

welcome = to be glad that something has happened

worldwide = around the world

World Wildlife Fund = organisation that tries to save and protect endangered animals

Over the next few decades, Europe’s Muslim population is expected to continue growing. A studyestimates that by 2050 the Muslim population could grow to 58 million, or 11 % of the total European population, compared to 5 % today.

The study conducted by Pew research, is based on census and immigrationdata from 30 countries. It created three scenarios. In the first scenario, Muslim immigration into Europe would come to a complete halt. Even then, the Muslim population would rise to 7.4 %. This is because Muslims, on average, are 13 years younger than Europeans and have a higher birth rate.

On the other side, a high migration scenario is based on the flow of refugees from 2015- 2016 and expects it to continue. If this happens, the total Muslim population in Europe will rise to 75 million, about 14% of the total population.

According to the Pew report, not all countries will be affected evenly by future Muslim immigration. Germany and Sweden will see the biggest increases because these two countries accepted most asylum seekers during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis.

At the moment, Germany (5 million) and France (5.7 Million) have the largest Muslim populations in Europe.

The recently published study is likely to cause more debate on immigration into Europe. It citesinstability in the Middle East and Northern Africa as well as the ongoing conflict in Syria as the main factors that drive people to European countries. In the last 6 years seeking asylum in conflict regions was the most important motive for Muslims coming to Europe. Only few came to Europe for employment or education.

After being president for 37 years, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has finally stepped down. At 93, he was the world’s oldest leader. Mugabe headed the country since its independence from Britain in 1980. In his letter of resignation, Mugabe said he would allow the peacefultransition of power to his successor.

Moments after the announcement, people started celebrating in the country’s capital Harare and elsewhere in the country. While some see him as a great African hero and statesmen, a majority of the populationregard Mugabe as a dictator who has economically brought down the southern African nation. He is criticised for using his power to crushopposition leaders and crack down on his political opponents.

After holding on to power for decades, Mugabe made his biggest mistake by trying to make his wife, Grace, instead of his Vice President his successor. In the days and weeks before finally stepping down, the military took control of the country and put Mugabe under house arrest.

When it became clear that the end was closing in, his own party, Zanu PF, removed him as party leader and started an impeachment process. After Mugabe’s resignation, opposition leaders are calling for quick and fair elections.

After Britain’s colony Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980, Robert Mugabe was the first, and only, black president. In sweeping economic changes, he nationalized white-owned private farms. Instead of being given to poor black people, Mugabe gave them to generals and his loyal followers. As a result, food production went down and the country’s people started suffering from hunger.

After independence, about 3 million people left the country for neighbouring South Africa. Those who stayed were left without work. Today unemployment is estimated at 80%. Tourism has slowed down and industrial output has decreased. Zimbabwe’s diamond mines, the largest source of income, are now run by the army.

A mysteriouschamber in an Egyptian pyramid has been recentlydiscovered by scientists. A special technique shows a large void hidden in the Great Pyramid of Giza near Cairo

The ScansPyramid project, led by the University of Cairo and the Egyptian government, uses advanced technology to find out more about ancient structures. Scientists from Egypt, France and Japan installed special detectors which could detect small particles called muons. These are a type of cosmic rain which constantly falls down on the earth. Threeseparateteams have conducted the research and have found the same cavity in the pyramid.

The newly found chamber in the Egyptian pyramid is 30 metres long and about the size of the Grand Gallery which is a known passageway that leads to the King’s Chamber. However, nothing else is known about the new room. It is also impossible to reach the space as there is no passage that leads to it. Experts also warn against having great expectations about new discovery inside the cavity. It is possible that the void does not have any meaning at all and was just left there for construction reasons.

The Great Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, was built at around 2650 BC. after the death of the pharaoh. It is the largest of the three remaining pyramids at Giza, which belong to the wonders of the ancient world.

60 people have died so far due to an outbreak of plague in Madagascar. According to the World Health Organisation, Madagascar witnesses about 400 cases of plague every year. However, this year infections have started much earlier and are spreading from remoterural areas to cities as well.

Most cases were pneumonic plague, a dangerous and severe infection of the lung. It is highly infectious and can be transmitted through air by coughing and sneezing. It invades the lungs and can lead to death within 24 hours.

156 cases were attributed to bubonic plague, an infection that is transmitted by rats and spreads to humans through flea bites. It can be very painful and causesfever, headache, chest pain as well as swollen lymph nodes.

While both forms of plague can be treated it is important to detect the illness at an early stage and get medical help to people as soon as possible. The WHO has helped with millions of doses of antibiotics. The International Red Cross has set up treatment centresthroughout the island. In addition the government has been supplyingpeople with masks and has closed down schools.

Madagascar, with a population of 25 million, has witnessed outbreaks of plague since the 1980s, usually during the rainy season between November and March. Officials fear that this time the disease might not be contained and could spread to many regions of the country.

The most deadly plague in history occurred in Europe in the 14th century. About a third of the continent’s population when killed as sailors brought the infectious disease from Asia.

International Red Cross parcel arriving at a treatment centre

Words

according to = as reported by

antibiotic = medicine that is used to kill bacteria and cure infections

attribute = to believe that something is caused by …

century = a hundred years

chest = front part of your body between your neck and stomach

contain = to stop something from spreading

detect = discover, notice

dose = an amount of medicine that you should take

due to = because of

flea = very small insect without wings that bites animals and people and eats their blood

in addition = also

infectious = disease that can be passed on from person to person, mostly by air

invade = here: attack

lymph node = small round swelling in your body with liquid that helps fight off infections

occur = happen

official = person in a high position in the government

outbreak = when something suddenly starts

remote = far away

rural = in the countryside

severe = very bad

spread = move from one place ot another

supply = give

swollen = larger than normal

throughout = all across

transmit = to pass on to another person

treat = cure an illness with medicine and other drugs

treatment centre = place where people can come to in order to get medicine

witness = experience ; see something happen

World Health Organisation (WHO) = international organisation which helps countries improve health care by giving people medicine and providing information about diseases

The first commercial flight landed on the British island of St. Helena a few days ago. It was the first passenger flight ever to land on the remote island, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. St. Helena’s authorities hope that the new air service from Johannesburg, South Africa will help boost tourism on the island.

Up to now only a boat service every three weeks connected the island with the African continent. It took a ship about 6 days to travel from South Africa. The small island reliesheavily on British aid to survive. St. Helena’s tourism officials say that the new air link will bring 30,000 visitors to the island every year, compared to only 4,000 last year.

The airport cost almost £ 300 m and has been widely criticised as being the most useless airport in the world. Only smaller airplanes can fly to the island because strong winds to not allow large jet planes to take off and land.

Saint Helena is mostly known as the island to which French emperor Napoleon was banned and diedafter he had suffered a defeat at Waterloo. The British overseas territory is only 122 square kilometres large and lies 2000 km off the coast of Africa. It has a population of 4,200 .

Development on the island has been slow. It got its first mobile phone service in 2015 and the first luxury hotel on the island is opening soon. Wildlife and nature on and around the island is why tourists find there way to St. Helena. A Marine Protected Area was established there last year.

The new airport on St. Helena – Image: Paul Tyson

Words

aid = financial help; money

air link = flights to and from a place

air service = company that arranges flights

authorities = the people who rule a place

ban = here: to bring someone to a faraway place so that he/she cannot escape

boost = improve; make better

coast = where land meets the sea

commercial = with passengers on board who pay for the flight

development = to increase business, trade and growth in a region

emperor = man who rules a group of countries

establish = create

heavily = very much; strongly

luxury hotel = very expensive hotel

Marine Protected Area = place in the ocean where animals and plants are protected

Africa’s Great Green Wall is a project to create a natural wall of trees across Africa. The wall will stretch across Africa south of the Sahara desert from the Atlantic Ocean to the Horn of Africa. When finished the 8,000 km long and 15 km wide Great Green Wall will be the largest man-made structure on earth.

The project started in 2007 in an attempt to fight desertification, permanent drought and food shortages in countries of the Sahel zone, one of the poorest regions in the world.

However, the building of the wall is not moving forward fast enough. Up to now, only 15% of the trees have already been planted, mainly in Senegal. The ambitious project will cost over $4 billion. 21 African countries, the World Bank, the FAO and the French government have committed themselves to financing the natural wall.

The Great Green Wall will run through an area, in which the dry season can last up to 10 months a year. Experts claim that by 2025 a large part of the fertile land in the region could be lost if nothing is done to save it. In addition, the wall is expected to provide food for 20 million Africans and also bind millions of tons of carbon dioxide.

The Sahel Zone

Words

ambitious = good but difficult to do

bind = here: to make it stay in the ground and not let it escape into the atmosphere

carbon dioxide = gas that is produced when animals breathe out or when carbon is burned in the air

claim = to say that something is true, even if you cannot prove it

commit = here: to say that you will do something

desert = land where it is always dry and where there are few plants and a lot of rocks and sand

desertification = when farmland changes into desert

drought = long period of dry weather when there is not enough water for plants and animals to live

FAO = Food and Agriculture Organisation = organisation in the United Nations that helps produce food and gives it to poor people around the world

fertile = here: land that is good enough to produce food

mainly = mostly

move forward = to make progress; here: to continue building

permanent = existing for a long time

provide = give

Sahel zone = dry area of land between the Sahara desert and tropical Africa

The second largest diamond ever mined has been sold to a private owner at a public auction in London. The Canadian company Lucara brought the diamond to the surface in Botswana two years ago.

The gem, called Lesedi La Rona, which means “Our Light“, is the size of a tennis ball and has a weight of 1,109 carats. The diamond was bought by a London jeweler for $53 million , the biggest diamond sale in the last one hundred years. In the next few months the new owner of the diamond wants to cut it into several smaller stones.

The only diamond larger than the Botswana diamond was the Cullinan , which was discovered in South Africa in 1905. It was cut into several smaller diamonds, which are today part of the British Crown Jewels.

Lucara tried to sell the diamond last year but did not get the price it wanted, probably because the diamond is extremely difficult to cut. The Canadian mining company is one of the largest in the world and operates diamond mines in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola and South Africa.